Cam Charron lambasts the notion that the so called "Luongo rule" will have a negative impact on the star goaltender's trade value. The crux of Cam's argument is that there are no guarantee that Luongo will retire early and that the cap-hit would most likely be manageable anyway. Also that the penalty is so far off that, well, who really cares? So basically the "Luongo rule" is exactly like the budget deficit.

Jordan Bowman put together a Canucks scavanger hunt that you can keep with you during the season, and cross things like "John Garrett mentions cheese on the broadcast" or "John Garrett mentions a show he likes on the broadcast" off the list as they happen! In real time! Funny stuff.

On the off chance that you haven't hit your "fifteen read limit" (and lord knows I have) the Province has a Q&A with Keith Ballard in which Vancouver's six defenseman, among other things, stands up for David Booth's willingness to put himself on the line on Twitter.

Ed Willes ranks the teams in the Northwest Division and sees the Oilers making the playoffs and the Minnesota Wild pushing for top spot in the division. Because the central looks to be dilapidated this season, I buy that this is the year that the Northwest Division returns two teams to the playoffs, but I think three is a stretch and I certainly don't think it'll be the Wild. Bluechip additions Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, better health, and the possibility that Mikael Granlund proves to be a difference maker in his rookie season will make the Wild an improved team, but we're still talking about the 30th ranked offense in the NHL last season and a club that had a goal differential nearly 80 points worse than the Canucks at even-strength alone. So yeah, nice additions aside, my bet would be that the Wild have too much ground to make up, and too few capable tough-minutes defenseman, to give the Canucks a run for their money in the Northwest this year.

Thomas Drance lives in Toronto, eats spicy food and writes about hockey. He is the editor in chief of the Nation Network (a.k.a Overlord), and an opinionated blowhard to boot. You can follow him on twitter @thomasdrance.